Jailed business owner ordered to repay almost £100,000 after cannabis bust

A jailed businessman has been ordered to pay back almost £100,000 of the proceeds from his cannabis growing operation or face more time behind bars. West Mercia Police officers raided Hereford Coach and Commercial Refinishers at Glebe Farm on June 8 last year.

Inside they found a cannabis grow with some 270 cannabis plants worth £93,800. The owner of the business, Andrew Mannion, of Orchard Meadow, Lower Eggleton, admitted growing the plants and two counts of being concerned in the production of cannabis.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years for count one and six months for count two, to run concurrently (at the same time) on August 25 last year.

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But at a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Worcester Crown Court held on Tuesday (November 19), the 62-year-old was instructed to payback the proceeds of his crime amounting to £97,009.44. If he does not, he was told he would receive another two years behind bars.

Detective Inspector Dan Fenn, from West Mercia Police's Economic Crime and Cyber Unit, said: “I hope this is a strong message to those who think being involved in the production of drugs that we will be relentless in pursuing illicit funds that have been made from illegal activity.

“I would like to commend the financial investigator who worked tirelessly on this investigation. It is a good example of how our team will not leave any stone unturned and will continue to protect our communities from further harm.”